Nevertheless

Ladies, listen up

This is not a poem

It’s a manifesto

One I hope you print and nail up on the

Entrance of your salle

Read it every time you enter

and

Review again on your way out

I see you

Rage against the normal vagaries of

Imperfection

Blame yourself for falling short of your own

Impossible ideals

I see you

Incriminate yourself

As lacking talent

Never working hard enough

Being just pain dumb

I see you

Self-flagellate

Lest your results not prove to

Spouse, partner, children, colleagues

Coach

That all that time was worth

The late nights, cold dinners,

Miles spent upon the road

Dollars spent on lessons and on gear

Plane fares, hotel rooms and registration

Co-pays to the doctor, trainer, therapist et al

Bullshit

Here’s my thesis:

You are heroes

Every one of you

Heroes—did you hear?

Not “heroines”—diminutives need not apply

You persevere through

Broken blades, bum knees, bad weather,

Clubmates who get better faster than they should

Teenagers who, now one year older, can’t be touched

Coaches who indulge their temper and their tongues

Podiums that stubbornly remain

Just of reach

I also see you

Fix the broken blade and bind the knee

Brave blizzards lest you miss one lesson

Cheer your teammates when inside you want to cry

Even after the worst practice

The most abysmal competition

You throw the stinking uniform into the wash and

Rise to do it all again

So,

Next time the black dog tries to take you down

Next time you’re tempted to apologize

To anyone, for who you are and what you do

Next time you feel you have to justify the choices that you’ve made

Remember

In the face of all the crap thrown at you by the world

You persist

And all of us,

This league of super veterans

With sore joints, grey hair, and 

Badass attitudes

We’ve got your back